Picnic horse racing

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Image:Tambo valley races 2006 edit.jpg 2006]]

Image:Fashions at Nyngan Picnic races - Nyngan, NSW, between 1927-1930 by unknown photographer from The State Library of New South Wales.jpg

Picnic horse racing, or more usually picnic races or more colloquially "the picnics" {{cite web |url=http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/www/html/640-event-details.asp?intEventID=1665 |title=Wagga Picnic Races Saturday 3 October 2009 |accessdate=2010-01-18 |date=2009 |work=Events - Wagga Picnic Races |publisher=City of Wagga Wagga |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728030038/http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/www/html/640-event-details.asp?intEventID=1665 |archivedate=28 July 2008 }} The picnics have been held for over 100 years... refer to amateur Thoroughbred horse racing meetings, predominantly in Australia. The meetings are organised by amateur clubs, the jockeys are amateur riders, or sometimes former professional jockeys. The horses competing are generally of a standard insufficient to be competitive at professional meetings. They are often trained by hobby trainers.

The meetings are more of a social occasion and are often held on Public Holidays, or on days when major metropolitan races such as the Melbourne Cup are held.

Oakbank, South Australia holds the world’s largest picnic racing carnival during the Easter weekend.[http://www.racingandsport.com.au/racing/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=82602 Racing & Sports - Oakbank Prepares For Easter Carnival] Retrieved on 4 June 2009